TTM Success - 'The Martian' Author Andy Weir

Andy Weir is a science fiction author whose debut novel The Martian was self-published in 2011 and re-released in 2014 where it immediately landed on the New York Times bestseller list. He wrote the book to be as scientifically accurate as possible, and his writing included extensive research into orbital mechanics, conditions on the planet Mars, and the history of spaceflight. The Martian was adapted into a Golden Globe winning and Academy Award nominated movie in 2015 starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain.

He signed the photo I sent him and returned it in my SASE in 26 days. He also enclosed a bookplate which I put in my copy of his book.

Andy Weir
650 Castro St. Ste 120-255
Muntain View, CA 94041
USA

In Person Success - Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli is a pop singer who was the frontman for the Four Seasons beginning in 1960. He has 39 hit songs to his name including Sherry, December, 1963, and Can't Take My Eyes Off of You. He and The Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. The Broadway musical Jersey Boys is based on his career with the Four Seasons. In addition to his music career, Valli has also acted on occasion, most notably in the TV series The Sopranos portraying mobster Rusty Millio.

Mr. Valli was in the city for a concert and I was able to meet him and get his autograph prior to the show. He also posed for a photo with me.

TTM Success - Presidential Debate Questioner Ken Bone

Ken Bone is a power plant operator from Illinois who, during the second US Presidential debate asked a question to Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton about their stances on energy policy. He immediately went viral thanks largely to his name, appearance, red sweater, disposable camera, and earnest genuine attitude. In the days following the debate, he appeared on a number of US talk shows, was portrayed by Bobby Moynihan on Saturday Night Live, and became the face of undecided voters in America.

He signed the photos I sent him and returned them in my SASE in 23 days. I actually got lucky in getting this back as it turns out I'd sent it to the wrong address. Ken personally messaged me on Twitter explaining it had gone to the wrong place but was able to be forwarded to him.

As I had the wrong address to begin with, and there was no return on the envelope, I am unfortunately unable to provide an address.

TTM Success - Doolittle Raider Richard E. Cole

Richard E. Cole is the last surviving Raider from WWII's Doolittle Raid on Japan carried out in retaliation to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. While the raid itself caused little actual damage to Japan, it did succeed in its goal of raising American morale and showing that Japan was not immune to attack. during the raid, Mr. Cole served as co-pilot on Aircraft #1 with Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle who led the mission.

Mr. Cole signed the photo I sent to him and returned it in my SASE in 19 days.

Richard E. Cole
48 Blaschke Rd.
Comfort, TX 78013-3013
USA

In Person Success - Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie

Buffy Sainte-Marie is a Canadian folk musician and activist. Active since the 1960s, her songs tend to focus on social subjects such as peace and indigenous issues. She is also a songwriter, most notably co-writing the song Up Where We Belong for the movie An Officer and a Gentleman which won her the 1982 Academy Award for Best Song. In addition to music, she has done some acting and was a regular on the TV series Sesame Street throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

She was in the city for a concert and signed this photo for me.

TTM Success - WNBA Player Breanna Stewart

Breanna Stewart is a professional basketball player in the WNBA for the Seattle Storm. Prior to joining the WNBA she was a forward for the University of Connecticut Huskies where she led the team to four national championships and was named the Final Four's most outstanding player a record 4 times. She was the first overall pick of the 2016 WNBA draft and was named WNBA Rookie of the Year for 2016.

She signed the photo I sent her and returned it in my SASE in 45 days.

Breanna Stewart
113 Kaymar Drive
Syracuse, NY 13212-1932
USA

TTM Success - Former UK Prime Minister Sir John Major Success

Sir John Major is a British politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the UK Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997. He served as Foreign Secretary and then Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Government of Margaret Thatcher from 1989 to 1990, and was the Member of Parliament for Huntingdon from 1979 to 2001.

He signed the photo I sent him and returned it in my SASE along with a letter from his assistant in 109 days.

The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major
PO Box 38506
London SW1P 1ZW
United Kingdom

In Person Success - Musician Kamasi Washington

Kamasi Washington is a jazz saxophonist and band leader. He has released 4 solo albums and has also worked with a number of other musicians including Nas, Lauryn Hill, Snoop Dogg, and recently played on Kendrick Lamar's Grammy nominated album To Pimp a Butterfly.

He was in town for a concert and I had him sign this photo and pose for a picture with me.

TTM Success - Former Olympic Diver Greg Louganis

Greg Louganis was an Olympic diver who is generally considered to be one of, if not the, greatest diver of all time. He won a total of 4 Gold Medals at the 1984 and 1988 Olympic Games in Los Angeles and Seoul winning the medals for the 3m Springboard and 10m Platform events. He also won a Silver medal in the 10m Platform event at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal.

He is widely remembered for an accident at the 1988 Olympics in which his head hit the diving springboard during the preliminary rounds. Despite suffering a concussion, he completed the preliminary rounds and still went on to win the Gold Medal in the event.

He signed my photo I sent him and returned it in my SASE in 28 days.

Greg Louganis
PO Box 16598
Beverly Hills, CA 90209
USA

Global Progress Summit

As is probably evidenced by many of the autographs I get, I am a big political buff. Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Global Progress Summit in Montreal, Quebec. The one day summit featured panels and speeches from progressive politicians and leaders from around the world. While there I had the opportunity to meet and get autographs from a number of them.

Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. I've been a big fan of hers for a long time. Her mom is former Texas Governor Ann Richards, one of my all time favourite US politicians.

Former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

Alphabet Inc. Executive Chairman and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. He didn't seem very happy to sign for me and initially refused though he eventually changed his mind.

Former Prime Minister of Denmark Helle Thorning-Schmit.

Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors Jason Furman. He seemed very surprised I wanted his autograph but happily obliged!

LinkedIn co-founder and chairman Reid Hoffman.

London, England Mayor Sadiq Kahn.

Journalist, media figure, and author Tina Brown.

United States Secretary of Labor Tom Perez.

I also got a photo with the current President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

TTM Success - Author William Peter Blatty

William Peter Blatty is an author who is best known for his horror novels, most notable his 1971 book The Exorcist. He also wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation for which he won an Academy Award in 1973.

He returned the photo I sent him signed in my SASE in 17 days.

William Peter Blatty
7018 Longwood Dr.
Bethesda, MD 20817-2118
USA

Please Note: Mr. Blatty unfortunately passed away on January 12, 2017.

In Person Success - Former Olympic Swimmer Mark Tewksbury

Mark Tewksbury is a former Canadian swimmer who won the Gold Medal in the 100 Metre backstroke at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He has also won Silver and Bronze Medals in the 4x100 Metre Medley. He is a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. In 2012 he also served as the Chef du Mission of the Canadian Summer Olympic Team.

Mr. Tewksbury was in Ottawa speaking at a conference and while here he signed this photo for me.

TTM Success - American Politician Bill Richardson

Bill Richardson is an American political figure who has served in a number of elected and appointed positions. He served as a member of the US House of Representatives from 1983-1997, United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 1997-1998, as the US Secretary of Energy from 1998-2001, and as Governor of New Mexico from 2003-2011. He sought the US Presidency in 2008 but eventually withdrew and supported Barack Obama who seriously considered him to be his Vice Presidential running mate.

I emailed his assistant and received a signed photo in 126 days.

brooke@billrichardson.com

In Person Success - Musician James Taylor

James Taylor is a 5-time Grammy Award winning musician who has sold over 100 Million albums making him one of the best selling musical artists of all time. Some of his best known songs include Fire and Rain, You've Got A Friend, and Carolina In My Mind.

In 2000, James Taylor was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2004 Rolling Stone Magazine named him #84 in their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time, and in 2015 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mr. Taylor was in town for a concert and he very gladly stopped to autograph my picture and pose for a photo.

TTM Success - Voice Actress Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright is a voice actress who is best known for providing the voice of Bart Simpson on The Simpsons. While Bart Simpson is by far her longest running and most famous role, she has also provided the voice of Gloria in the animated series Richie Rich, Margo Sherman in The Critic, Chuckie Finster in Rugrats, and also Nelson Muntz, Todd Flanders, and Ralph Wiggum on The Simpsons in addition to Bart.

She sent me a signed 8x10 that she provided in my SASE in 221 days.

Nancy Cartwright
9420 Reseda Boulevard #572
Northridge, CA 91324
USA

In Person Success - Country Singer Sam Hunt

Sam Hunt is a Grammy nominated American country singer whose debut album Montevallo was a critical and commercial hit with the single Take Your Time going to #1 on the country charts.

I had met Sam a few years ago when he was up and coming and it was great to see him again as a major country music star. He was in town for a concert and signed my photo for me.

TTM Success - Carole Cook and Tom Troupe

Carole Cook is an actress who began her career as a protege to actress Lucille Ball. She appeared regularly on the TV shows The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy and films such as The Incredible Mr. Limpet, Sixteen Candles, and American Gigolo.

Tom Troupe is an actor who has appeared in movies like Kelly's Heroes and The Devil's Brigade. He also had a notable guest role in a 1967 episode of Star Trek playing Lieutenant Harold.

Carole and Tom have been married since 1964.

I sent them both photos which they returned signed in my SASE in 18 days.

Carole Cook and Tom Troupe
8829 Ashcroft Ave.
West Hollywood, CA 90048-2401
USA

In Person Success - Pakistani Writer and Poet Fatima Bhutto

Fatima Bhutto is a Pakistani writer and poet. She first came to prominence after her first book was published, a collection of poems called Whispers of the Desert. Among her other bestselling books are 8:50 a.m. 8 October 2005 and Songs of Blood and Sword. She is a member of the Bhutto political family; the granddaughter of former Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and niece of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

She was in town attending a conference and she signed a photo for me and posed for a photo.

TTM Success - R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine is an author of horror novels for children and young adults, most notably the Goosebumps and Fear Street series. Throughout the 1990s he was one of the best selling authors in the world and in 2003 the Guinness Book of World Records named him the best selling children's book series author of all time.

He signed the photo I sent him and returned it to me in my SASE in 51 days.

R.L. Stine
Parachute Publishing
157 Columbus Avenue, Room 518
New York, NY 10023
USA

In Person Success - Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary General of the United Nations from 1997 to 2006. Since he left the position of Secretary General, he has served as founder and chairman of the Kofi Annan Foundation and in 2012 served as the UN Envoy to Syria.

He was in Ottawa for a conference and meetings and I met him and got him to sign a photo as he was leaving Parliament Hill after meeting with Prime Minister Trudeau.

TTM Success - Actress Gena Rowlands

Actress Gena Rowlands has appeared in a number of films, though she is probably best known for her roles in the movies A Woman Under the Influence and Gloria. For both of the movies she received Oscar nominations for Best Actress. Throughout her career she has won 3 Emmy Awards, 2 Golden Globes, and in 2015 was awarded an Honorary Academy Award.

She sent me a signed 8x10 photo and returned it in my SASE in 48 days.

Gena Rowlands

7917 Woodrow Wilson Dr.

Los Angeles, CA 90046-1215

USA

TTM Success - Actor Kyle MacLachlan

Heard back from actor Kyle MacLachlan. He has had a number of different roles in television shows such as Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks, Trey MacDougal in Sex and the City, Orson Hodge in Desperate Housewives, and the Mayor of Portland in Portlandia, and films including Jeffrey Beaumont in Blue Velvet and Clifford Vandercave in The Flintstones.

He returned my photo signed in my SASE in 118 days.

Kyle MacLachlan
7985 Santa Monica Blvd #109-209
Los Angeles, CA 90046
USA

Just For Laughs 2016

I'm in serious need of catching up on all the autographs I got over the summer. I'll start with my trip to Just For Laughs in Montreal. It was a great time, as usual, and I ended up with a few dozen new autographs to add to my collection.

British Comedian and TV host Alan Carr.

 Brian Regan is one of my favourite stand up comedians. I was very excited to meet him!

Carrie Fisher, better known as Princess Leia in Star Wars hosted one of the gala events at JFL this year.

Dan Harmon is a TV writer and producer who created the TV shows Community and the Adult Swim cartoon Rick and Morty.

I've been a fan of the comic Emo Philips for years. I was delighted to find out he's just as eccentric in real life as he is on the stage!

Comedian George Wallace:

Great meeting Hannibal Burress again!

I've met Howie Mandel 3 times now, but I finally got him to sign a photo from Bobby's World one of my favourite shows from childhood! He also signed the photo I took with him a few years ago.

Comedian Iliza Shlessinger has made a big name for herself with her Netflix specials. She's also super friendly and recorded a Snapchat message for my friend who's a big fan of hers! I met her at my first JFL several years ago and she signed the photo from that meeting.

 I was really excited to meet Janeane Garofalo. She was on two of my very favourite TV shows ever; Seinfeld and The West Wing. I was really glad to add her to my Seinfeld collection. While we were chatting she told me that she actually got to take home some of the boxes of cereal from the Seinfeld set!

Jeff B. Davis is a comedian best known for his time as a cast member on Whose Line is it Anyway.

John Mulaney is one of my very favourite comedians! He signed my photo with the inscription I asked for; one of the best lines from his comedy special in my opinion! He seemed pretty amused to sign in like this!

Lewis Black is always great to his fans. It was a pleasure seeing him again!

Mike Judge is the creator of the TV shows King of the Hill and Beavis and Butthead. He signed my King of the Hill photo and the photo we took together last time he was at JFL.

 Actor and comedian Nick Kroll signed this photo we took together a couple years ago. He wasn't particularly friendly then, and is no more friendly now...

 Nick Thune is an up and comer in the comedy world. He was a friendly guy!

I think I must be one of the few autograph collectors in Canada who hadn't met Russell Peters (definitely the only one in my friend group). It was great to finally get the opportunity.

Sarah Silverman is one of my favourite comedians ever! This was my second time meeting her and she was super friendly! I commended her on her speech at the Democratic National Convention and she complimented my shirt I was wearing! She signed a photo from her appearance on Seinfeld and signed a copy of the selfie we took last time we met.

Great meeting actor Seth Rogen. He's appeared in so many hilarious comedy films. His signature leaves much to be desired though...

Actor and Comedian Tom Green signed this classic shot from Road Trip:

I've recently been listening to the anti-slut shaming podcast Guys We Fucked so it was great getting the opportunity to meet the hosts Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson.

Finally, NBA star Blake Griffin was performing at JFL for some reason. I had him sign my photo and it appears he just wrote Mickey Mouse on it... If this is as good as his comedy gets, may I suggest he doesn't quit his day job.